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Ingrid Nolting
Epidemiologic status of dental students with specific respect to orthodontic aspects
Abstract
121 dental students (67 male, 54 female) were examined at the beginning of undergraduate training. 51 individuals without previous orthodontic treatment were compared to 70 individuals with a history of orthodontics. In addition, it was differentiated whether the orthodontic treatment had been performed by a certified
orthodontist (48 individuals) or by a general dental practitioner (22 individuals).
Besides assessing the general dental health and orthodontic status of the individuals it was the aim of the study to investigate if orthodontic treatment has a positive effect on general dental health. Furthermore, it was to be analysed if the long-term success of
orthodontic treatment depends on the therapist’s level of training (certified orthodontist
or general dental practitioner).
Dental health was evaluated using the DMF(T)- and DM(T)-Indices. Dental casts were
analysed to determine the orthodontic status. The DHC (Dental Health Component) of the IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need) was used to evaluate the remaining orthodontic treatment need.
The investigation revealed the following:
- Average DMF(T)- and DM(T)-Indices in the whole subject material were 8.0 and
1.7, respectively. No significant gender differences were found. A previous orthodontic
treatment had a significant effect on both indices. While the untreated group exhibited
an average DMF(T)-value of 9.6, the orthodontically treated group showed an average value of 6.9 (p=0,022). Correspondingly, the DM(T)-Index in the untreated group showed an average value of 2.2 , while in the orthodontically treated group the average Index amounted to only 1.4 (p=0,012).
- The prevalence of single tooth position and occlusal anomalies was high regardless of the sex. A deviation from the normal sagittal occlusal relationship was found in 36.4%
and from normal overjet in 53.7%. A lateral open bite (mainly single teeth) was present
in 12.4% of the individuals and a deviation from normal overbite in 55.4%. Anomalies of the transverse occlusal relationship in the buccal segment were found in 20.7% of the individuals, while in the frontal segment they were present in 47.9% of the cases. Crowding was seen in 38.8% and spacing in 19.0%. Single tooth malalignment was the most common finding, being present in 98.3% of the subjects.
- The long-term success of orthodontic treatment in terms of a lower frequency of
single tooth position and/or occlusal anomalies was higher for treatments performed by
certified orthodontists compared to general dental practitioners. This was most obvious
(p=0.04) for the sagittal dental arch relationship. While individuals treated by certified
orthodontists exhibited sagittal dental arch relationship deviations in only 19% (Class II
16.7%, Class III 2.3%), this was the case for 68 % (Class II 45.3%, Class III 22.7%) of
the general dental practitioner subjects. Comparable results were found for crowding
(p=0.02), which was present in more than half of the general dental practitioner subjects
but only in 25% of the certified orthodontist group. All other occlusal or tooth position
anomalies exhibited no significant differences between the groups. However, there was
a general tendency towards higher success rates in the group treated by certified
orthodontists.
- The degree of remaining orthodontic treatment need depended upon the therapist’s
level of training. A moderate to very high treatment need (IOTN degree III-V) was present in 59 % of the individuals treated by general dental practitioners compared to 29 % of the subjects treated by certified orthodontists.
